Electric signal



E. P. KELLY ET AL ELECTRIC} SIGNAL Fil 18 I92? 5 Sheets-$heet 1 REE 814001415042 Jaw/7222 May 13 192%.

- 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 18, 192? 8 vwe ntou A Q x Q \m i|||lxvl.||'|||l| c i Rum \nm: m 4w a. E m MM w w 9v wn a. Q u A V k% m Q\ rlall-llllll'lllllllollllllllllIII-lllilll May 13 1924 1,494.311

" E. P. KELLY ET AL ELEQTRI C S IGNAL Filed Feb. 18, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented May is, 1924.

UNETED STATES 1,494,311 PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD 1. KELLY, LEE L. CHAMPLIN, AND FRANK ARIO, O'F MANKATO, MINNESOTA.

ELECTRIC SIGNAL.

Application filed February 18, 1922.

i To all whom it may concern:

This invention relates to improvements in electric signals, and more particularly to a warning signal exhibiting changeable warnings.

An important object of the invention is to provide in a signal of that type wherein are employed a plurality of cylindrical drums certain of which are rotatable, and improved operating means for rotating the rotatable drums.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a device of this character-means whereby incandescent globes contained within and rotating with the rotatable drum are protected against shock in checking the motion of rotation of the drum which often causes breakage of such illuminating elements.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved device of this character which is simple in construction and arrangement and which may be readily adjusted whereby to render the same practical for production and use.

These and other objects we attain by the construction and arrangement shown in the accompanying drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a'preferred embodiment of our invention and wherein like reference characters designate like parts throughout.

In the. drawings: 1 Figure 1 is a side elevation'of a signal constructed in accordance with our invention:

taken therethrough on the line 22 of Figure 1' Figure 3 is alongitudinal sectional view taken therethrough on the line 33 of Figure 2' V Figure 4 is an enlarged end elevation of the signal, the removable-head being removed; and

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the inner cylinder.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view Serial No. 537,528.

Referring now more particularly to-the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates an outer cylindrical casing provided at one end with a removable head or cover 10. The casing is provided at the side or end thereof with means, as at 11, whereby it may be secured to a suitable support. In the present instance, the attaching means is shown at the side of the casing 10 which is horizontally arranged. The casing 10 is provided at diametrically opposed points with hooded openings 12, the hoods being provided with retaining sockets 13 for the reception of a transparent element, preferably clear glass. The upper surface of the drum may be employed for mounting thereon an ornamental sign member 14, if so desired.

Arranged within the drum 10 adjacent the closed end thereof is a. diametrically extending brace 15, and arranged adjacent the open end thereof at a point spaced from the open end is a second diametrically extending brace 16. These braces 15 and 16 are provided with aligned openings 17 for the reception of a rotatable shaft 19.

The numeral 20 indicates diametrically extending brace members secured to the shaft 19 inwardly of the braces 15 and 16. The outer ends of these braces 20 are secured to a cylinder 20 having openings 21 formed therein at diametrically opposed points. Disposed intermediate the braces 15 and 16 and the braces 20, are collars 18 secured to the shaft and maintaining the braces in spaced relation and preventing longitudinal shifting of the shaft with relation to the drum. By maintaining the braces 20 in position, movement of the cylinder 20 is, of course, prevented. At the sides of the open ings 21, guides 22- are provided for the reception of transparent elements 23 having a warning signal painted or otherwise formed thereon. The portions of the cylinder 20" intermediate the openings 21 have painted or otherwise formed thereon warning signals 24. In the present instance the; trans parent elements 23 are disclosed as provided with the signal Stop, and the sections of the cylinder intermediate the openings have inscribed thereon Safety first. It will be obvious that by rotating the shaft 19 either the openings 21 of the cylinder 20 or the intermediate portions 24 thereof may be aligned with the openings 12 of thedrum 10 whereby to exhibit their warnings thereh. So ket 25 for an incandes e lamp'or lamps are secured to the shaft 19 and are adapted to be engaged by the usual lamps 26. To these sockets are connected a feed wire 27 and return wires 28 in the usual manner, the wires being suitably sup ported upon the shaft 19, as indicated at 19*.

Secured to the brace 16 adjacent the lower end thereof in spaced relation are brackets 29 and 30 intermediate which is disposed a solenoid coil 31, the armature guide opening of the coil 31 being aligned with an opening 32 formed in the bracket 30. The usual armature bar 33 is associated with the armature and has secured to the upper end thereof, as at 34, an extension member 35, the upper end of which projects through a guide 36 secured to the brace 16 adjacent the upper end thereof. The extension member is provided upon one side thereof with a rack 37 and secured to the shaft 19 and meshing with the rack 37 is a pinion 38. It will be seen that when the armature bar is reciprocated the shaft 19 will be rotated by the engagement of the rack and pinion.

Means for limiting the movement of the cylinder 2O by the armature bar extension 35 are provided consisting of stop members 39 and 40 secured to an edge of one end of the drum and engaging spring stop members 41 and 42 respectively, carried by the brace 16 adjacent the ends thereof, one of these stops limiting rotation in one direction and the other stop limiting rotation in the other direction, and each of the stops aligning a signal with the opening 12 of the outer drum 10. The energizing of the solenoid coil will, of course, shift the bar in one direction thereby rotating the cylinder 20 in one direction. As means for reversely rotating the cylinder 20, a spring 43 is disposed so that it is compressed by the armature bar 33 when actuated by the solenoid coil and which imparts an initial movement to the cylinder 20. Secured to one of the braces 20 of the cylinder 20 is a counterweight 44 which causes the rotation of the cylinder to continue, being secured to the upper end of the brace so that when the initial rotation is imparted to the cylinder 20* the balance is thrown off center and consequently rotates the casing until the stop 40 engages the spring 42.

Secured to the upper end of the brace 16 is an insulatory block 45 'having binding posts 46, 47 and 48 mounted thereon. The binding post 48 has secured thereto one wire 49 from the solenoid coil and the feed wire 27 for the incandescent globes 26. The binding post 46 has secured thereto the second wire 50 from the solenoid coil and the blnding post 47 has secured thereto the return wire 28 from the incandescent globes 26. The binding posts 46 and 47 are electrically connected to spaced contact menubers 51 and 52 respectively. To the binding posts 46 and 48 are connected the lead wires L from a source of current S as indicated diagrammatically in Figure 4. Secured to and insulated from the upper end of the extension 35 of the armature bar 33 is a contact member 53 embodying a spring tongue adapted to engage and connect the contacts 51 and 52 when the solenoid bar is at the end of its movement under the actuation of the solenoid coil 31 so that the lights are not lighted until the openings 21 of the cylinder 2O are substantially aligned with the openings 12 of the drum 10 and are cut off upon initial movement of the bar to return the drum to normal position.

In the use of our device, the inner drum is provided with suitable symbols dependent upon the use to which it is to be put. For example, where the device is used as a signal at a railroad crossing, the cylinder may be provided with the symbols shown in the drawings. Where the same is used as a traflic signal, the cylinder may be provided with the words Go and Stop or any other suitable symbols. Assuming the symbols employed to be those disclosed in the drawings, the Safety first symbol is normally disclosed through the transparent covering of the openings 12 of the drum 10. Upon actuation of the solenoid the armature bar is drawn down, causing rotation of, the shaft and bringing the stop 39 into engagement with the spring 41 whereupon motion of the cylinder is checked with the openings thereof aligned with the openings of the drum, exhibiting the word Stop at both sides of the drum. Simultaneously the movement of the bar .has brought the contact 53 into engagement with the contacts 51 and 52 completing the circuit to the incandescent elements 26 and causing the signal to glow. Upon the circuit to the solenoid again being opened, the spring 43 acts to impart initial rotation to the cylinder 20 through the medium of the solenoid bar 33, extension 35 and pinion 38. After such initial movement the weight 44 comes into play continuing the rotation of the cylinder 20 until the symbol Safety first is again aligned with the openings 12 of the drum 10. It is pointed out that by the use of the light spring 43 for imparting initial movement to the drum and supplementing this initial movement by the use of the counterweight, the use of the heavy solenoid coil for overcoming the action of a heavy spring such as would be necessary to complete the rotation of the cylinder 20 is eliminated. It is pointed out that due to the fact that the counterweight is vertically above the shaft when the signal is fully shifted to its operative position by the solenoid, this counterweight does not act against the solenoid but against the Shaft. Accordingly,

the only holding current necessary to the device is a sufficient amount of current to overcome the action of the light spring 4C3. The use of the counterweight has a further advantage in that the amount of current which must be supplied to operate the cylinder need only be suflicient to impart a starting movement to the cylinder against the weight of the counter-weights. With this weight once in motion but a slight amount of current is necessary to shift the solenoid. Where the heavy spring is used the solenoid coil must be strengthened accordingly, thus adding greatly to the expense of the construction. The use of the motion checking springs 41 and 42 has likewise been found to be an extremely valuable element of the construction in that breakage of the filaments of the incandescent elements 26 is substantially eliminated.

From the foregoing it is believed to be obvious that an electric signal constructed in accordance with our invention may be very cheaply constructed and will at the same time be particularly well adapted for the uses for which it is intended. in that it may be readily adjusted and repaired, the latter feature being especially obvious when the fact is considered that removal of the head 10 exposes all of the working parts of the device to view. It will furthermore be obvious that the construction as hereinbefore set forth is capable of some change and modification without materially departing from the spirit of our invention and we accordingly do not limit ourselves thereto except as hereinafter claimed.

We claim 1. In a signal, a drum having an opening therein. a shaft rotatably mounted within the drum, a cylinder carried by the shaft and provided with warning symbols alignable with the opening of the drum, spaced stops carried by the cylinder and engaging with yieldable stops carried by the drum when the symbols of the cylinder are aligned with the opening of the drum, means for reversely rotating the cylinder comprising a bar having an extension provided with a rack, a pinion carried by the shaft and engaging with the rack, electrical means for moving the bar in one direction to cause engagement of one pair of stops, a spring engaged and compressed by the bar during its travel under influence of the electrical means, said spring impart-ing the initial return movement to the bar, and a counter weight carried by the cylinder and imparting further rotation thereto in the same direction as and subsequently to the rotation imparted thereto by the actuation of said bar by said spring.

2. In a signal, a drum having an opening therein, a shaft rotatably mounted within the drum a cylinder carried by the shaft and provided with warning symbols alignable with the opening of the drum, means limiting rotation of the cylinder when the symbols thereof are aligned with the open ing of the drum, means for rotating the cylinder in one direction comprising a pinion carried by the shaft, a bar having an extension provided with a rack engaging the pinion, electrical means for moving the bar in one direction, a spring engaged and compressed by the bar during its travel under influence of the electrical means and imparting an initial return movement to the bar, and means carried by the cylinder imparting further rotation thereto in the same direction as and subsequently to the rotation imparted thereto by the return movement of said bar.

In testimony whereof we hereunto affix our signature.

EDWARD P. KELLY. LEE L. CHAMPLIN. FRANK ARIO. 

